ARTIST SPOTLIGHT : FRANK OCEAN "NOVACANE"

Christopher Francis Ocean (born Christopher Breaux; October 29, 1987),better known as Frank Ocean,he is a singer-songwriter from New Orleans,Louisiana. Ocean was evacuated from the University of New Orleans to Los Angeles California just as Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, and stayed in Los Angeles to pursue music. Ocean joined Los Angeles based collective OFWGKTA, who he met through his connections.At the end of 2009,he met Tricky Stewart, who helped Ocean sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings as an artist, however,he was initially unable to build a relationship with the company.



In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher Breaux to Christopher Francis Ocean via a legal website.Ocean has written songs for Justin Bieber(with whom he has recorded a song), John Legend, Brandy,and Beyoncé Knowles ('I Miss You' from the album '4'),Ocean has also worked with Nas (on whose 10th studio album Ocean is expected to feature, along with fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Hodgy Beats) and Pharrell Williams. On February 18, 2011, Ocean released his first mixtape, nostalgia,ULTRA., to critical acclaim. His music mostly focuses on interpersonal relationships, personal reflection and social commentary.Rolling Stone magazine's Jonah Weiner calls Ocean a "gifted avant-R&B smoothie".In an April 2011 interview, Ocean intimated that his relationship with Def Jam has strengthened since the release of his mixtape.Ocean appeared in Tyler, the Creator's music video for the single "She", from Tyler's 2011 studio album Goblin.Ocean joined his OFWGKTA bandmates for the first time on tour from the beginning of May thru to May 19, 2011. They toured the eastern seaboard of the United States.On May 19, 2011 Ocean's record label Def Jam announced its plans to re-release Nostalgia, Ultra as an EP.



The single "Novacane" was released to iTunes in May and the EP originally was set to be released on July 26, 2011, but through his Tumblr blog on July 24th, he stated that it would not be released on that date.In June 2011, Ocean revealed on his Tumblr that he would be working on the upcoming Kanye West and Jay-Z collaborative album, Watch The Throne.Ocean was ultimately a writer and featured artist on the Watch The Throne tracks "No Church in the Wild" and "Made in America".Ocean released a new song titled "Thinking About You" on July 28.